Blame Russia, Not Zelenskyy, for the Ukraine War's Endless Slog

Ukraine struck a major Russian technology hub in the night of October 16, hitting multiple targets in Moscow, Rostov, and Vladimir regions using drones. According to monitoring channels ExileNova+ and SuperNova+, the operation targeted Yandex’s data center located in Vladimir Oblast, approximately 500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Meanwhile, former U.S. president Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that dealing with him is harder than dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The attack on Yandex marks the fourth time the company has been hit by Ukrainian forces this month, with previous strikes occurring on October 8, 9, and 11. Some reports suggested a decline in Russian troll and bot activity online following these attacks, although this claim was later refuted by data analysis. Trump described Ukraine’s renewed attacks on Russian oil refineries as a “shame,” adding that Zelensky’s actions drive up global oil prices. On October 15, Zelensky told the Financial Times that the previously announced pause in Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries had been revoked. This move challenged Trump’s earlier declaration of an “energy ceasefire,” which neither Russia nor Ukraine had formally agreed to. Trump reiterated his criticism of Zelensky, saying he is not the right person to broker a deal and expressing that Zelensky does not genuinely want an agreement. Reuters reported that the White House ordered restrictions on Starshield, a satellite communication system used by Ukraine for battlefield operations and drone guidance. Two U.S. officials and a Western official familiar with the matter confirmed the directive came from within the White House. The Pentagon, the primary customer of Starshield, a military variant of SpaceX’s Starlink, received instructions to slow down its service. Ukrainian officials noted that Starlink military terminals stopped working when installed on mobile units, undermining the effectiveness of their drone operations. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have deteriorated recently, particularly after a meeting in Miami on October 9 involving representatives from both countries, European officials, and the World Bank. According to a source familiar with the discussions, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff took a firm stance against Ukraine during the meeting. Ukraine has reportedly finished its stockpile of Patriot missile defense systems, raising concerns about its defensive capabilities. Meanwhile, the Kremlin dismissed Trump’s proposed ceasefire, stating there would be no truce. In separate developments, Elon Musk criticized Zelensky, suggesting it is time for him to step down, while also explaining the outage of Starlink services in Ukraine. Zelensky expressed feeling “betrayed” by Trump, fearing a loss of U.S. support. Despite this, Europe is expected to increase its involvement in Ukraine’s defense, as the conflict continues without resolution.